Hughes, who has missed most of the fall season due to a muscle tear behind her right knee, will skate in two competitions this weekend. The first is here on Friday, then on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, in the Hallmark Skaters Challenge.

The 17-year-old plans to use the competitions to debut her new short and long programs.

"I really love both programs this year," Hughes said. "I'm aware it is at an initial phase right now, and I hope that people will understand it is not the middle of the season for me. I am just getting started."

Robin Wagner, Hughes' coach and choreographer, said Hughes was starting much later than she would have liked.

"We generally like to start her back in May or June, and unfortunately that was not able to happen this year," Wagner said.

The International Figure Skating Challenge's format has each skater performing a free skate in front of a panel of five international judges.

Yagudin also missed the majority of the fall season due to a hip injury. The four-time world champion withdrew from Skate America on Oct. 26 despite winning the short program, citing pain in his right hip.

Diagnoses ranged from a career-threatening congenital hip problem to something that could heal with therapy. Yagudin has cut down his array of jumps for the event.